Govindas hardsells 'Make in Manipur' initiative at textile conference
Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Info Centre
New Delhi, November 04 2015:
Manipur Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam explained on what the Manipur Government was going to do under 'Make in Manipur' for Make in India initiative of the Government of India.
Participating in the annual textile conference held today at India Habitat Centre with Union Minister of State for Textiles (Independent Charge), SK Gangwar in the chair, Govindas Konthoujam stated that the economy of Manipur was primarily based on agriculture, horticulture, forestry, handloom, handicraft, sericulture, animal husbandry etc.
He said, "We are setting up Livelihood Business Incubators (LBI) and Technology Business Incubators (TBI) in all the nine districts of Manipur.
In addition, we are planning to set up Rural Industry Service Centres (RISC) in each of 61 Blocks in Manipur.
In these LBI, TBI and RISC we are planning to train and upgrade the skills of our educated unemployed youth for taking up entrepreneurial activities under MUDRA, PMEGP, Food Processing Fund of NABARD, Credit Guarantee Fund Trust Scheme of MSME sector, apparel and garment making, power loom, post cocoon activities.
After making forward and backward linkages we will arrange suitable financing so that they can take up micro and small enterprises in order to earn additional income of minimum Rs 60,000 per annum.
Since we have the highest density of Handloom weavers, the income generation potential through the sustained efforts in handloom, handicraft and sericulture is huge in Manipur" .
He informed that as advised by the Union Secretary of Textiles on March 24 this year, in a meeting with him in Imphal, the State Government submitted proposals for 10 block level handloom clusters, 10 handicraft clusters and sericulture cluster proposals under North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) to the concerned agencies under Ministry of Textiles.
He urged the Union Minister, Textiles to announce the sanctions of those projects to give a boost to Make in Manipur which was part of Make in India initiative of Government of India.
He recalled that when the Union Minister and the Secretary of Textiles had visited Manipur on March 23 this year in Manipur, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had outlined the vision of State Government of Manipur that only additional employment generation on a mass scale would lead to the path of peace and prosperity in Manipur.
Based on his vision, he had advised his officials to devise a road map for realising the vision.
He was proud to announce there that the State Cabinet of Manipur in its meeting held last week approved the proposal for launching the State Mission of 'Make in Manipur initiative for Employment Generation' in the Sangai Festival in Manipur to be held in the last week of November 2015.He extended his invitation to the Union Minister of Textiles and all the State Ministers of Textiles from different States to attend the launch of the mission and also enjoy the State hospitality during Sangai Festival, an annual international festival showcasing 'Make in Manipur Exhibition', tourism potential and arts & culture of Manipur.
Govindas Konthoujam expressed gratitude to the Centre for sanctioning Rs 13.17 crore for power loom and Rs 235.76 lakh for four Block Level Handloom Clusters under NHDP, Rs 149.76 crore for Manipur Sericulture Project in four valley districts and Rs 30.39 crore under Integrated Sericulture Development Project for Eri and Mulberry in Hill District in Manipur.
He informed that the skill development under Integrated Skill Development Scheme is in progress observing all the formalities and norms of biometrics attendance, online enrolment, installation of webcam, laptop, solar light, etc.
A target of 7000 trainees were to complete within March next year.
He also mentioned that the State Government was implementing 51 Cluster Development Projects under NERTPS with a total sanctioned amount of Rs 30.01 crore.
However, the 2nd instalment claimed in February, 2015 was not released for want of "midterm evaluation and impact of scheme" .
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